NYC & COMPANY AND GLM WELCOME 157th NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR WITH SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTS TO BE SHOWCASED AT CITY’S LARGEST TRADE SHOW

—Semi-Annual Show Brings in 40,000 Attendees, Generates 30,000 Hotel Room Nights and Delivers More Than $22 Million in Direct Spending to New York City—

—Gift Fair Officials, Exhibitor American Design Club and Brooklyn Retailer 3R Living Debut New Products and Discuss Current Retail Trends—

New York City (August 13, 2009) – NYC & Company, the City’s marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today joined GLM to preview the 157th New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), which takes place in New York City beginning this weekend. Against the backdrop of the official NYC Information Center in midtown Manhattan, NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta,, NYIGF director and senior vice president of GLM Dorothy Belshaw, and representatives from the American Design Club and Brooklyn retailer 3R Living, discussed details of the show, highlighting current retail trends, and offering a sneak peek of select products that will be showcased at the City’s largest trade show. NYIGF opens this Saturday and goes through Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and the Pier 94 ship terminal. Previewed today at the press conference were new items that will be unveiled at NYIGF including Don’t Worry therapy candles, tattoo art kitchen textiles, organic dog cosmetics, climate change chocolates, and a new felt mouse.

“We are pleased to have the NYIGF in town for its semi-annual event this month—as the largest trade show of the year, it brings significant economic impact to our City, and touches every corner of our visitor industry,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company. “In this challenging economy, New York City relies heavily on its trade show and convention business, and we expect our members—from hotels and restaurants to cultural institutions, Broadway, performing arts and tours—to all benefit from this show being in town.”

The NYIGF is the largest trade show of its kind and is expected to bring more than 40,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than 75 countries into New York City. The Fair’s 2,900 exhibitors featuring gift, home and lifestyle products from New York-based designers as well as goods from some 40 countries, including Spain, Italy, Germany and the U.K. Visitors in town for the NYIGF are expected to book approximately 30,000 hotel rooms across the City with an estimated direct spending reaching more than $22 million. The show also uses more than half a million net square feet at the Javits Center and Pier 94.

“NYIGF draws influence and inspiration from New York City, the world’s epicenter of design and retail,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “It has never been more affordable to attend NYIGF, and our summer offerings – an extensive selection of new suppliers, access to principles of leading manufacturers and unparalleled style and sophistication of resources – make it a must-attend market.”

This summer’s NYIGF offers market participants access to more than 400 new gift, home and lifestyle suppliers, coupled with an unparalleled breadth and depth of sophisticated and fashion-forward resources. 2,900 companies will be featured in eight divisions including: Accent on Design featuring A+: The Young Designers’ Platform; At Home featuring Outdoor Living and Home Textiles; EX-TRACTS; General Gift featuring Floral & Garden Accessories; Just Kidstuff and The Museum Source; Handmade featuring Handmade in the USA; Personal Accessories featuring Details, Studio; and Tabletop & Housewares featuring Accent on Tabletop.

In connection with continued trade and consumer interest in “green” products, SustainAbility: design for a better world®, a curated exhibit of green products and producers and educational series, returns to NYIGF this summer. A new Eco-Choice Award, will award three of the display’s 175 products with top “green honors” - Most Innovative, Most Sensitive Use of Materials and Most Sellable. Additionally, as a platform for new product introductions, NYIGF hosts a series of awards to recognize excellence and innovation in product design. The Accent on Design Awards will recognize design excellence in individual products and collections; the new Accent on Design “Bloggers’ Choice” Awards will showcase “top picks” by representatives of new and emerging media outlets; the EX•TRACTS Best New Product Awards will recognize product excellence in five categories; and Home Textiles Market Week Best New Product Awards will recognize product excellence in four categories.

Exhibitor Charles Brill of Rich, Brilliant Willing, and co-founder of the American Design Club (AmDC), and Brooklyn retailer Mark Caserta of 3R Living, today offered a designer’s and retailer’s perspective on three trend areas – Frugal Chic, Sustainability, and Inspired Artisanry – important in gift and home products for the summer 2009 market.

International participation at the trade show includes newcomer Spain’s Instituto de Promoción Exterior de Castilla-La Mancha, a government-sponsored pavilion of Spanish manufacturers and distributors. With this addition, NYIGF’s General Gift division now will feature a total of eight international pavilions – Created in France/Ateliers D'art De France (France); LMI-Leipziger Messe International GmbH (Germany); Israel Export Institute (Israel); Italian Trade Commission (Italy); JETRO New York (Japan); British Jewellery & Giftware Exports (UK); and Africa Now! (a collective of West African nations). In total, 40 countries will be represented in the summer market.

Two of New York City’s largest licensees will be exhibiting at the Gift Fair this year. Torkia International, located in booth #1015, offers a wide range of Adult and Children’s apparel plus a full array of officially licensed souvenirs. Daron Worldwide Trading, represented by Big Apple Enterprises in booth #1056, has a creative line of vehicle play sets featuring NYPD, FDNY, Taxi and Sanitation cars and trucks. Proceeds from the sale of these products benefit the City of New York.

The 157th NYIGF and other related events are open to trade only and not open to the public. Complete details about seminars and special events are available through the NYIGF website. Visit nyigf.com/programs for information and registration.

About NYC & Company NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

For information on visiting and experiencing New York City, go to nycgo.com or visit the Official New York City Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets in Midtown Manhattan. For more information, visit nycgo.com.

About NYIGF: NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,900 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. Some 40,000 attendees from all 50 states and around the world are expected, including 10,000 exhibitor personnel. For information and registration, visit nyigf.com

-30-

For press inquiries please contact Kimberly Spell/ Chris Heywood at 212.484.1270